Good mental health is essential to the overall health of both men and women, but women experience some mental health conditions (including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress) at higher rates than men.
In fact, 1 in 5 women in Australia will experience depression and 1 in 3 women will experience anxiety during their lifetime.
Depression and anxiety conditions can happen at any time, but we know women are more likely to experience these conditions during pregnancy and the year following the birth of a baby.
Depression affects up to 1 in 10 women while they are pregnant and almost 1 in 7 women during the first year after the birth. Anxiety conditions are likely to be at least as common as depression during pregnancy and the year following, and many women experience both conditions at the same time.
Understanding the risks and recognising the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicide can help you to recognise them in yourself and others. The important thing to remember is that effective treatments are available and, with the right care, most people recover.